Fair Deal

The Fair Deal was the term used to describe the domestic programme of US President Harry S. Truman in January 1949. Following his unexpected victory in the United States presidential election, 1948, Truman hoped to advance beyond the New Deal to introduce measures on civil rights, fair employment practices, education, public health insurance, extended social security benefits, support for low-income housing, price and rent control, and farm subsidies. The programme also proposed guaranteed full employment and an increased minimum wage. A coalition of Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats blocked most of the measures in the US Congress until financial and personal scandals involving members of the administration, the Communist takeover in China, and the outbreak of the Korean War undermined Truman's political capital. Nevertheless, Truman did manage to secure some advances in housing and social security.